The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-04
CHAPTER Xxx.

A silence, intense, horror stricken, fol-
lows on his words. Miss Roche has fallen
back from him, and is now leaning
against the wall, with her hands clasped
upon her bosom, and her eyes, large and
atfrighted, fixed on his.
"Stolen" she says, the words coming
with difficulty through her white lips.
"Do they think l stole them?" She
shrinks backward against the wall as
though she would fain sink through it,
and SO disappear forever.
"Oh, no! Good heavens Mol" re-
plies he, shocked. "But this man An
nerley. 1t is essential that he should be
found and compelled to say where he got
them. You say you don't know his ad
dress, but surely it may be discovered"
"Have they been thinking that'" says
Nadine, needless of his last words.
"And you, have you, tool She
breaks off as though the power to go on
fies him.
"My darling! Don't look at me Hike
that. Nadine! Who is accusing your
Who suspects your Be reasonable"
"Lady Valworth suspects me. see 1t
all now, though did not understand be-
fore why she was so cold to me all to-day,
She thinks most cruelty, most unjustly
of me. Oh! what shall l dop"
"Nothing now. Tomorrow you must
give us any help you can toward finding
Mr.. Annerley, No doubt" with quick
contraction Of the brows," he will be
able to explain to us in a satisfactory
manner how these jewels came into his
possession"
"What a terrible situation" says Ma
dine, family. she covers her eyes with
her hands. "If I had only obeyed him.
If l had followed his injunctions not to
wear these fatal ornaments"
'He advised you not to wear them'"
Duran's voice is sharp and keen.
"Yes. But only because he believed
them too handsome for me, just now,
when We were both poor Afterward,
he said, when he had made his fortune,
they would suit me we'll"
'Did it not strike you that it was
strange for man calling himself poor to
be able to purchase such costly thingsf"
~ did not think, | seldom thought of
him." Her tone is low and self reproach-
full. "How strong is fate" she says
presently. "To drive me hereto COM
pei me to wear what had never worn
before. But / am not regretful," " cries
she, suddenly, with a touch of vehe-
mence. "He will be able to explain, of
course. And now Lady Valworth and
Millicent will get back their own."
She tears off the sapphire ornament
and throws 1t into Duran's palm with a
shudder,
~ must see Lady Valworth. / must
speak with her." exclaims Nadine,
eagerly. Her cheeks are burning, her
hands tremulous,
"Wait until tomorrow,
~ shall not wait another moment.
cannot live with this weight upon my
heart" She presses her hands conyul-
sively against her breast "Take me to
her," she implores, family,
Seeing the excitenSnt that is betraying
Itself in glance and gesture, Duran draws
her hand through his arm and leads her
from the conservatory. The tea room is
now deserted, and they pass into the hall
without encountering anybody, Mid
night chimes from some distant tower,
the solemn sound breaking even through
the light sparkling dance music that
comes from the ball room ON their left
and that swells and rings through the
house.
"Thc last train is in. am afraid Lady
Valworth will be taken up with her son.
He has surely arrived, or is on the point
of arriving says Duran to his compan-
Ion in low tone. Nevertheless, we
win try II it be possible to see her alone
for even few minutes"
A servant gives them the information
that her ladyship has just passed into
the library in momentary expectation of
Capt. Boyle's arrival. There they find
her with Millicent, whom she has ems
treated to stay with her and Sir Thomas,
As Nadine and Duran enter Sir Thomas
is expostulating a little on his wife's
desertioD of her guests
''It will be but for a little while, few
moments" returns she eagerly "fIe
must, he will come by this train and
Clarssa" Mrs, Brandt "has taken my
place, ] shall not be missed for half an
hour, and he is sure to come straight
heren
She looks up rather impatiently as Ma.
dine comes into the room. The girl Is
white as death and trembling with agita-
ticn. Going up to Lady Valworth, she
lays the sapphire pendant upon the table
near her.
"Lady Valworth, " she says gently, her
voice low and earnest, sit is only just
now that i have heard from Mr., Duran
about this. pointing TO the sapphires